India's Water Stress and Hydropower | 27 Jun 2024

Source: LM 

Why in News? 

Recently, Moody's Ratings has warned that India's escalating water shortage, climate change-driven natural disasters can disrupt several sectors including agricultural production and industrial operations which could undermine the country's sovereign credit strength.  

What is the Current State of Hydropower Generation in India? 

• Current State of Hydropower Generation:  
  • Hydropower generation in India has declined by 17.33% from 162.05 billion units in FY23 to 133.97 billion units in FY24. 
  • India's installed large hydro capacity currently stands at 46.92 GW, constituting approximately 10% of the nation's total power generation capability of 442.85 GW.  
  • Capacity addition of large hydropower projects witnessed a decline in FY24, with only 60 MW added compared to 120 MW in FY23.  
• Factors Responsible of Low Hydropower Generation: 
  • Delayed and Irregular monsoons: The southwest monsoon has been delayed this year and the patchy rainfall due to El-nino Effect and a prolonged dry spell last year have left water reservoirs drying up. 
  • Low Reservoir Levels: India's 150 key reservoirs had a live storage of only 37.662 BCM, representing 21% of their live storage capacity and 80% less than the previous year. 
    • The Indira Sagar reservoir in Madhya Pradesh, which supports a hydel capacity of 1 GW, is currently 17% full, down from 24% at this time last year (2023).  
    • Meanwhile, the Koyana dam in Maharashtra, with a hydro power capacity of 1.9 GW, is at 10% capacity, lower than the usual level of 15% for this time of year. 
  • Shutdown of Hydropower Plants: Some hydropower plants were shut down in the last few years due to the adverse impact of floods and cloudbursts, and these plants are yet to resume operations. 
• Implications of Low Hydropower for Energy Sector: 
  • Increased Reliance on Thermal Power: With declining hydropower generation compared to last year, coal-fired power plants will have the load to meet the rising power demand. 
  • Disruptions in Power Supply: Industries with high water usage, such as coal power plants and steel makers, will be impacted by the shortage of water supply.  
    • Further delay in monsoons has led to several thermal power plants not undergoing the required maintenance, which may lead to faults and trippings in power supply. 
  • Reduced Hydropower Potential: The decline in water availability will further limit the potential for hydropower generation, which is a crucial component of India's renewable energy component. 

What is the Current State of Water in India? 

• Water scarcity: India has a large population (18% of the world's total) but limited freshwater resources (only 4% of the world's total). This makes it a water-stressed country. 
• Water pollution: Around 50% of India's rivers are contaminated and polluted, making the water unsafe for drinking or irrigation. 
• Overdependence on groundwater: India is the world's largest user of groundwater, which is leading to depletion of these resources. 
  • Groundwater plays a vital role in ensuring water security in rural and urban areas, fulfilling around 80% of the drinking water requirements and two-thirds of agricultural irrigation needs in the country. 
• Climate Vulnerability: Around three-quarters of India's districts are vulnerable to extreme weather events like droughts and floods, which can further disrupt water availability. 

What are the Causes of Water Stress in India ? 

• Rapid Economic Growth and Urbanisation: India's population has grown rapidly, from 361 million in 1951 to over 1.3 billion in 2024. 
  • This has led to a significant increase in water demand for both domestic and industrial uses, putting a strain on already stressed resources. Industries, major water consumers, further exacerbate the problem by polluting water bodies with their effluents. 
• Declining Water Availability: According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, India's average annual water availability per capita is likely to drop to 1,367 cubic metres by 2031 from an already-low 1,486 cubic metres in 2021. 
  • A level below 1,700 cubic metres indicates water stress, with 1,000 cubic metres being the threshold for water scarcity. 
• Climate Change and Weakening Monsoon Patterns: The Indian Ocean has been warming at a rate of 1.2 degrees Celsius per century during 1950-2020, and this is expected to intensify to 1.7-3.8 degrees Celsius during 2020-2100. 
  • This warming is leading to a narrowing gap between land and sea temperatures, weakening the monsoon circulation and resulting in more severe and frequent droughts. 
  • Changing weather patterns and melting glaciers in the Himalayas are altering the availability and distribution of water resources. 
• Agricultural Practices and Inefficient Usage: Agriculture accounts for over 80% of India's total water usage.  
  • Inefficient irrigation techniques, such as flood irrigation, cultivation of water-intensive crops like rice and sugarcane in water-scarce regions further strains water resources. 
• Groundwater Depletion: According to the Central Ground Water Board, 54% of India's groundwater resources are overexploited due to excessive and unregulated groundwater extraction for irrigation and other purposes. 
• Poor Water Infrastructure and Management: India's water management system suffers from deficiencies in infrastructure and governance. Inadequate storage, distribution, and treatment facilities lead to significant water losses and inefficiencies.  
  • Additionally, weak water management policies, monitoring, and enforcement worsen these issues. 
• Water Pollution: Industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and domestic sewage have polluted many of India's surface and groundwater resources. This has reduced the availability of clean, usable water for various purposes. 

What are the Implications of Water Scarcity in India? 

• Health Impacts: Lack of access to safe drinking water can lead to various health issues like dehydration, infections, and waterborne diseases. The NITI Aayog reports that around 200,000 people die in India annually due to inadequate water supply and related issues. 
• Ecological Damage: Water scarcity poses a threat to wildlife and natural habitats, as animals are forced to venture into human settlements, leading to conflicts and endangerment.  
  • It has also disrupted the biodiversity and ecological balance of ecosystems. 
• Reduced Agricultural Productivity: Agricultural sector, which consumes 85% of India's water resources, has been negatively affected with water scarcity leading to reduced crop yields, affecting food security, and increasing poverty among farmers. 
• Economic Losses: Water scarcity can hamper India's economic growth and development by affecting industrial production, reducing energy generation, and increasing the cost of water supply and treatment. 
  • The World Bank's 'Climate Change, Water and Economy' report (2016) warns that countries with water shortages may face a significant setback in economic growth by 2050. 
• Effect on India’s Climate Goal: India targets generating 50% of its electricity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 and lower hydropower output would lead to relying heavily on solar and wind power to fulfil its climate pledge. 

Way Forward 

• Sustainable Groundwater Management: There is a need to devise a proper mechanism and rural-urban integrated projects for artificial recharge to groundwater and rainwater harvesting at household level, conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater, and regulation of water reservoirs. 
• Smart Agriculture: Drip irrigation is a powerful technology that can reduce water consumption by 20-40% while increasing crop yield by 20-50% compared to furrow (flood) irrigation. 
  • Also, cultivation of less water-intensive crops like pulses, millets and oilseeds should be encouraged in water-stressed regions. 
• Blue-Green Infrastructure: Combining green and blue elements together in modern infrastructure planning can be an effective way of providing a sustainable natural solution for watershed management and eco friendly infrastructure. 
  • Green indicates: Gardens, permeable pavements, green roofs. 
  • Blue indicates: Water bodies like rivers, canals, ponds and wetlands. 
• Using Modern Water Management Techniques: Information Technology can be integrated with water-related data systems to enhance management and efficiency. 
  • Recent advances in technology have enabled the purification of water previously deemed unfit for consumption, making it clean and safe.  
  • Some of the most commonly used techniques include Electrodialysis Reversal (EDR), Desalination, Nanofiltration, and Solar and UV Filtration.